Traction-engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1. G. L. JACQUES. TRAOTION ENGINE.

No. 506,695. Patented 001;.17, 1-893.

1% Model.) I 2 sheets sheet 2.

e. L,JAGQUES.. TRACTION ENGINE.

No. 50659 5; Patented Oct. 17, 1893,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. JACQUES, OF NEILLSVILLE, WISCONSIN.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,695, datedOctober 17, 1893.

Application filed April 9, 1892. Serial No. 428,552. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. JACQUES, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Neillsville, in the county of Clark and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful Traction-Engine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to traction engines for use upon ordinary wagonroads, sleigh roads and upon rail roads.

The objects of my improvements, are, first, to provide alternatingreciprocating bars striking the ground and thus propelling the enginewhich (said reciprocating bars) will at all times strike the ground at acertain angle, with the surface thereof, best suited to enable them totake a firm hold on the road bed; and which (said reciprocating bars)will (at all times and rates of speed) take a full length stroke of evenvelocity at all parts of the stroke; second, to provide a means wherebythe speed of the traction engine in traveling over the ground may beincreased or decreased at will while the machinery of the tractionengine is in motion or at rest without changing the speed of the steamengine or other motive power used to propel the machinery of thetraction engine, thereby enabling the operator to increase or decreasethe pulling power of the traction engine at will, by decreasing orincreasing, respectively, the speed at which the said traction enginemoves over the ground, while the motive power aforesaid maintains thesame speed, developing the same power; third, to provide a means wherebythe reciprocating motion of the piston head and piston rod in a steamengine may be converted into a circular or rotary motion and avoid adead center or dead pull against the crank shaft, at any part of thestroke of the piston head and use only one cylinder and one piston head,and the adaptation of such arrangement to a traction engine. Iattainthese objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a detail view in perspective of thewhole machine as it appears in operation with a portion of the platforma removed to givea clear view of the wheel e and the bars f and g. Fig.2 is a view of a portion of the wheel 1) showing more clearly the mannerof sectional view of the beam k and the cross-' head j. Fig. 6 is a viewin perspective of the parts 0, m, n and Z of the bar or rod connectingthe crank 10 and the cog wheel M. Fig. 7 isa view in perspective of thebar A as it appears detached from the machine. Fig. 8 is a verticalsection of the crosshead B. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of thecrosshead O to which the beam to is attached. Fig. 10 is a horizontalsection of the wheel I) and a portion of the shaft (1 on the line 1-2showing the bevel on the edge of the wheel I) where the cogs are placed.Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the platform a on the line 34t showingthe ways W and the bar A and v the crosshead C said crosshead O as itappears with the beam 10 removed. Fig. 12 is a vertical section of thelower part of the beam is showing more clearly the cog wheels N and Mand the manner of their arrangement.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral parts or views.

The table or platform 'a resting upon and supported by the wheels bconstitutes the framework of the machine. On the under side of theplatform a on each side so as to come in contact with the cogs on thewheels 6 and c and running lengthwise parallel with the edges of theplatform a, are attached two bars A, exact counterparts of each other,and attached to the platform a by the ways W in which the crossheads Band O work; and to the crossheads O are attached the bars to by a balland socket joint. The wheels I) and c are exact counterparts of eachother and on the edges of the face where the cogs are at tached arebeveled as shown in the sectional, view in Fig. 10 and the shaft (1 isinclined slightly from a right angle with the edge of the platform a soas to bring said bevel on the edge of the wheels I) and c exactlyparallel with the bars A so that the round cogs A will come in contactwith the cogs on the Wheels band 0 on one side of said wheels only. Whenthe wheels 5 and c revolve the straight cogs on the sides of the wheelsI) and 0 will by coming in mesh with the round cogs A on the twobarsApropel one bar forward and at the same time propel the other barbackward until the curved cog i and the curved cog y in the wheels 0 andb respectively come in contact with the round cogs A on the bars A, wheneach bar will have its motion reversed and be propelled in an oppositedirection until the round cogs on the bars A again encounter the curvedcogs on the opposite sides of the wheels b and 0; thus by constantrotation of the wheels I) and c, the bars A and the bars to attachedthereto, will have a reciprocal backward and forward motion of equalvelocity at all parts of the stroke; and the two bars to alternatelycoming in contact with the road bed will propel the traction engineforward.

If it is desired to propel the traction engine backward it can be doneby raising each of the bars w and carrying it around so that it willincline or point to the front of the machine, the ball and socket jointby which it is attached to the bar A facilitating this change. As eachof the bars 10 has a motion of equal velocity and equal at all parts ofthe stroke the motion of the traction engine over the ground will besteady and devoid of jerking. If it is desired to run the said tractionengine on snow or a sleigh road the wheels I? can be removed and sleighrunners with a nose on either end substituted therefor. The wheels I)and c are all keyed to the shaft das is also the wheel 6 so that byrevolving the wheel 6 the wheels I) and care revolved. The shaft (1revolves in boxes attached to the platform a. The ratchet cases f fappear from the opposite sides exactly as they do from the sides exposedto View in Fig. 1. In either side of each ratchet case f is a slot Gthrough which passes the pin E passing through the ratchet F with thesplit bar gattached thereto on either side of the ratchet case f. Theslot G allows a slight backward and forward motion to the bars 9 and thepins E Without moving the ratchet cases f f. The pin D passes throughand is fastened to either side of the ratchet case f and passes throughthe ratchet F so as to allow the ratchet F to turn thereon. Thus theforward and backward movement of the bars g and g will alternatelyengage and disengage the two ratchets F with the ratchet wheel 6.Therefore if the bars 9 and g are constantly oscillated or movedbackward and forward one of the two ratchets F will be constantlyengaged with the ratchet Wheel e and thus by the alternate action ofsaid ratchets give said wheel a a constant rotary motion in onedirection; and by limiting the length of the strokes of the bars 9 g bythe means hereinafter described the ratchets F and F will not reach ateither end of the stroke a position in line with the shaft (1, thus atall times avoiding a dead center or dead pull against the shaft d.

The cross head q connecting with the piston rod and piston head of thesteam engine is constructed to have attached to itthe bars 8 and thecrank shaft 1'. The crank shaft 1' is attached to the wheel S by a crankpin which is hidden in the drawings by the beams and u. The wheel S iskeyed to a shaft to the farther end of which is keyed an ordinaryeccentric wheel of a steam engine. The shaft to which the said eccentricwheel and the wheel S are attached, as aforesaid, revolves in boxesplaced between said wheels and bolted to the plate T. The eccentricaforementioned connects with the steam chest of the engine by theeccentric rod t as in an ordinary steam engine, the steam valves beingoperated by said eccentric and eccentric rod as in any common slidevalve steam engine. The bar 8 connecting with the crosshead q isattached to the bar or beam at at its upper end by a crank pin. The beamto and the beam 7a are each keyed to.opposite ends of a shaft connectingthem which said shaft turns in the boxes 5 and 5 placed on said shaftbetween said beams and bolted to the plate T. The length of the beam u.from said shaft to the crank pin connecting it with the bar 8 is largerthan the radius of the wheel S; therefore when steam is turned on in thesteam engine the alternate backward and forward movement of the pistonrod and the cross head (1 will cause the wheel S to revolve and theeccentric wheel connected therewith acting'through the eccentric rod twill move the steam valves in the steam chest as in an ordinary steamengine while the diameter of the wheel S will measure the length of thestroke of the piston head and keep it from pounding on the ends of thesteam cylinder as in an ordinary steam engine; but (the beam u beinglonger than the radius of the wheel S) the said cross head q (connectingwith the beam u by the bar 8) will, in its backward and forwardmovement, cause the beam u to oscillate backward and forward, therebygiving the beam loan oscillating movement back- .ward and forward thesame as the beam u; and the split bars g and 9 being connected to thebeam k by the cross head j will move backward and forward and thus bythe alternate action of the two ratchets F on the ratchet wheel 6 causethe wheels b, e and etc revolve as hereinbefore described.

The beam k is hollow and open on the side next to the Wheel e as shownin Fig. 5, and is provided with ways for the cross head j to work up anddown in by bolting the strips J J to its inner surface as shown in thesectional view in Fig. 5, and said beam is" is provided with boxes onthe inside of either end for the screw H as shown in the sectional viewin Fig. 3. The crosshead j, to which are attached the bars g and g bythe bolt I, works up and down in said ways upon the screw H. The screw Hrevolves in boxes provided in each end of the interior of the beam k asaforesaid. Keyed to the screw H near its lower end is the cog wheel Nwhich is in mesh with the cog wheel M. The cog wheel M is keyed to theshaft L which revolves in boxes provided in the portion of the shell ofthe beam k more particularly designated as P and R. The shaft L connectswith the crank 19 by the sliding tumbling rod 0, m, n, Z, moreparticularly shownin Fig. 6. The joints 0 0 are ordinary tumblingrodjoints. Theportion of-the shaft '11,, m, Z marked m is a portion ofthe part nsquared and fits loosely in a square hole or mortise in theportion of said shaft designated Z so as to allow the whole shaft m n Zshown in Fig. 6 to lengthen and shorten While revolving. Thus when themachine is in mo tion and the beam is oscillating backward and forwardthe tumbling rod joints at o 0 and the slide at m permit the operator(by turning the crank 10) to revolve the screw H and thereby shift theposition of the crosshead j up or down in the beam is, thereby giving tothe bars 9 g a long or short stroke as desired, accomplishing thisobjectgradually and while the machine is in motion or at rest withfequalfacility.

By running the crosshead j to the upper end of the beam is the stroke ofthe bars 9 9 will be lengthened and the speed of the Wheels 1), e,cincreased and by running the cross head jto the lower end of the beam isthe stroke of the bars g 9 will be shortened and thereby the speedof-the wheels 5, e, 0 decreased. Therefore the operator can by turningthe crankp increase or decrease the speed at which the traction enginepasses over the ground at will without altering the speed or powerdeveloped by the steam engine, thereby increasing or decreasing thepulling power of the traction engine as the piston head will continue tomove at the same speed and developing the same amount of power; andthese changes (being made gradually while the machine isinmotion) willenable it to pull large loads up steep hills and through bad places inthe road and start heavy loads in bad places without jerking.

The objects sought to be attained in my invention may be secured byconveying the power from said beam is to the road bed in the mannerindicated in said drawings or by transmitting by any suitable means therotary motion of the wheels 17 c to the Wheels o, in which latter casesaid traction engine would be equally adapted to use upon rail roads orordinary wagon or sleigh roads.

I prefer to carry out my invention in the manner indicated in saiddrawings.

I am aware that others have invented trac-- tion engines propelled bybars or feet coming alternately in contact with the ground or road bed.Therefore I do not claim such a combination broadly.

I am aware that in a previous application I have applied for a patentupon a road machine or traction engine propelled by two or more barscoming alternately in contact with the road bed and attached at theupper end to cross heads arranged to move backward and:

forward .in ways provided in the platform of the engine. Therefore I donot claim such a combination broadly in this application.

Iam aware that sliding tumbling rods similar to that shown in Fig. 6have before been used in other machines for other purposes.

Therefore-I do not claim broadly the invention of the sliding tumblingroditself in all machines as a new means of transmitting a rotary motionto a moving object.

I am aware thatin other machines for other purposes a reciprocatingmotion has been.

1. The beam 70 having inclosed therein the cross headj and the screw Hconnected with the crank p by the wheels N and M and the slidingtumbling rod 0 m; 41 Z 0 substantially as shown and for the purposespecified.

2. The combination'in a traction engine of the beam is and thecrossheadj and the Ways- J J; and. the screw H and the boxeszz and thecog wheels N and M and the sliding tum bling rod'o n m Z 0 and the shaftL and'the crank p enabling the operator to raise or lower the positionof the crosshead j in the beam in at will while said beam 70 is inmotion oscillating backward and forward; all

substantially as set forth and described.

3. The combination, (as a means of increasing or decreasing the power bydecreasing or increasing the speed respectively) of the beam k the screwH, inclosed therein; the ways J J; the crosshead j; the split connectingrods 9 g the ratchet cases ff; the ratchets F; and the ratchet wheel e;together withthe cog wheels N and M and the shaft L and the slidingtumbling rod 0 n m Z 0 and crank p all arranged substantially assetforth and described.

4. The combination, for the purpose of converting a reciprocating motioninto a rotary motion, of the ratchetwheel e; the ratchet cases f f, oneon each of two opposite sides of said ratchet wheel e; the two ratchetsF, one in each of said ratchet cases f f; the split bars 9 g; and thecross head j; all substantially as set forth and described.

5. The wheels I) and c with the straight cogs 0c thereon and the curvedcogs t' and y thereon all for the purpose specified and substantially asset forth and described.

6. The combination of the wheelb having onthe outer edge of its face, oron theface of its circumference (in which lattercase the wheel would beplaced at right angles with the bar A) the straight cogs w and onopposite edges thereof the curved cogs-i and y;

and the bar-A with the round cogs A thereon all substantially as setforth and described for the purpose of converting a rotary motion into areciprocatingmotion or for the purpose of converting a reciprocatingmotion into a rotary motion.

7. The combination in a steam engine of the double crosshead q; the bar1"; the wheel S to measure the stroke of the piston head; and theeccentric; the eccentric rod t to regulate the flow of steam; the bar 8;the beam u; the beam is; the crosshead j; the screw H; the cog wheels Nand M; the sliding tumbling rod 0, 'n, m, Z, 0; the crank 19; the splitbars g g; the ratchets F; the ratchet cases ff; and the ratchet wheel 6;all as described hereinbefore and substantially as set forth.

8. The bar A with the crossheads B and C and the round cogs A thereonsubstantially as described and set forth.

9. The combination in a traction engine of the cog wheels I) and c; andthe bars A with the round cogs A thereon, and the cross heads B and (Jthereon, and the bars to w attached thereto, for the purpose ofpropelling said traction engine; all substantially as set forth anddescribed.

10. The combination in a steam engine of the double crosshead q; the baror crank arm 7*; the wheel S; the eccentric concealed from view, in thedrawing, by the wheel S; the eccentric rod t; the split connecting rodsg g; the ratchet cases f f; the ratchets F; and the ratchet wheel e; theconnecting bars g g to be attached directly to the crosshead g by a pinpassing through said crosshead q and the end of each of said connectingrods g 9; all for the purpose of converting the reciprocating motion ofthe piston head to a rotary motion without having at any part of thestroke of the piston head a direct pull or push against the crank shaft,all substantially as set forth and described.

11. The combination in a traction engine of the platform at havingslides or ways W W for the crossheads B and C attachedthereto; the barsA having the round cogs A thereon, and one of the bars W attached to thecrosshead 0 on each bar A by a ball and socket joint; the cog wheels band c havingthe straight cogs a; and the curved cogs t and y thereon;the ratchet wheel e; the ratchets F, and the ratchet cases f f; thesplit connecting rods g g; the beam k,having the screw H, and thecrosshead'j, and the waysJ J and the boxes 2 z therein; the cog wheels Nand M in said beam is; the shaft L and sliding tumbling rod 0, 'n, m, l,0 and the crank 10 to operate said screw H and crosshead j; the beam u;the bar 8; and the double crosshead q; the

bar 7'; the wheel S the eccentric; the eccentric rod and the plateTbolted to said platform a; all for the purposes specified andsubstantially as set forth and described.

' GEORGE L. JACQUES. Witnesses:

.JosEPH MORLEY,

CARL STANGE.

